A few years ago, I did three posts titled “My Favorite Things.” The posts featured my responses to a list of questions, and then I asked all of you to share your answers in the comments sections. I thought it would be fun to do a fourth one of these. They aren’t all “favorites,” but here goes! Be sure to post your responses as a comment.
Do you enjoy exercising? If so, what are your favorite activities?
I wouldn’t say I enjoy exercising, but I do it because it makes me feel good and helps me stay healthy. I despise running, although sometimes I push myself to run a mile. I really like the elliptical, but we don’t own one, and I don’t have a gym membership, so that isn’t an option right now. Mr. Handsome surprised me with a treadmill, which I use all the time for power walking when I’m not pregnant. (It’s just too strenuous for me during pregnancy.) Most recently, I’ve been doing a combination of slower walking videos and basic strength training.
Do you prefer watching movies at home or in the theaters?
Definitely at home. I just find it more comfortable to be on my own couch, in my comfy clothes, eating my own snacks. But Mr. Handsome enjoys theaters, so we go every once in a while. It’s so expensive though! We haven’t been to a movie in a theater in almost two years, which has worked out pretty well for me, but I know Mr. Handsome is eager to go, so I’m sure we will at some point.
What is your favorite grocery store?
I shop at a variety of grocery stores. My list is actually quite large. Costco, Trader Joe’s, Walmart, Aldi, and Kroger are my favorites because they have the best prices, but I will go to Publix (or pretty much any other store) if I need something in a pinch.
What type of weather would you like to have year-round?
Sunny and 80 degrees, with low humidity
What does your laundry schedule look like? How many loads do you do each week?
I do 8-10 loads of laundry per week, and I try to do most of them on the same day, just to get it all over with in one shot. Mr. Handsome is very active and busy, so he goes through clothes and towels quickly, and I always wash my shirts and pants separately from his because mine require more gentle cycles. I do one load of sheets, 1 or 2 of towels, 1 of Mr. Handsome’s work clothes, 2 of Mr. Handsome’s other clothes, 1 or 2 of Little Buddy’s clothes, 1 of my clothes, and 1 of everyone’s socks and underwear. It sounds like a lot, but it’s really not too bad.
When is your favorite time of day to relax?
In the evening, after all my work is done for the day.
When you were little, what did you want to be when you grew up?
An author and an actress. Mr. Handsome wanted to be an entomologist (someone who studies insects). He still loves bugs as an adult. I haven’t written a book, but I hope to someday. However, I’m a terrible actress and have no intention of pursing that.
Verna
I should be exercise more. Up until my husband got sick in July I was walking 2 miles a day. I must get back to it.
Definitely watch movies at home. I am hooked on Christmas movies and hallmark.
I mostly shop Walmart and Kroger.
Laundry: i do his and hers. When we moved him downstairs due to lung cancer and he couldn’t do the stairs, I moved a few of his clothes to the half bath, and he uses the washer as a laundry basket. So if say I do around 4 to 5 a week. Some weeks more then others. Just the two of us. That makes a difference
Time to relax…. what is that? Just kidding, since retired I can do so whenever I wish.
When I was young I thought I’d be a school teacher.
Ended up being a bookkeeper.
Ellie
Thank you for sharing, Verna! Prayers for your husband. What type of bookkeeping did you do?
JenniferH
Here are my ‘favorites’!!
I do like exercising and I used to run before having kids but I hardly find the time now. Instead I now stay active by chasing my kids around- it has helped keep me in good shape so far 😜
Movies at home- same reason as you. Couch is way more comfortable 🤣
Favorite grocery store; Walmart 👀
Type of weather: sunny and 80 as well 😍
Laundry- I throw a load in every morning. And I also have additional delicate or sheets/blankets so probably 7-8 loads a week. I try to not do them on Sunday’s but will fall behind if I don’t 😳
When do I relax; I have a cup of coffee in the morning. Then a short break after lunch with a cup of coffee, but for the most part I’m moving all day- working and cleaning etc. so that by evening I can relax and unwind before bed knowing everything is done 🙃
When I was little I always wanted to be a mommy and I am one now. I thought I was supposed to want a career but this is all I ever wanted to be and I couldn’t be happier 🙃
Ellie
I am exactly the same way…I work and clean all day so I can relax in the evening!
Gabrielle!
I do enjoy exercising! walking or running is what I like to do most!
I don’t care I love watching movies at my own house and being comfy! But Theaters are so fun too!!
Walmart or Costco
I would love 70s sunny and a breeze for weather!
I do about 10-15 loads of laundry in a week
Same! I love relaxing in the evenings
I want to be a OB nurse when I’m older:)
I loved your answers Ellie! You used one of my questions too:) Your in my prayers:)
Ellie
Being an Ob nurse would be a wonderful job! I hope you are able to achieve your dream 🙂
Jennifer
Hi Ellie!
My husband is a runner…I tried but it’s not for me, Lol! I like walking and stretching due to leg surgery. Need to work on getting in more aerobics.
I stay on the go every day…an elementary school teacher ( 25 years and still going) never stops! PS- When I was little I wanted to fly planes in the Navy, but because I need glasses or contacts it was not possible.
Movies- I prefer being at home in my comfy clothes, couch, and fresh popped popcorn.
I tend to shop at Walmart- super close to home. I prefer my meat and seafood from Kroger. Publix for flowers or special items.
There are 3 of us at home-
I do 2 loads of laundry a day
My clothes and then the guys clothes
On Thursday- 3 loads- I wash towels
On Friday 3 loads- sheets
With lacrosse season coming …that will add a sports load
My husband is retired – so he does most of it now. I don’t let him do mine- he washed it all in hot water and dried on high
Hope you are doing well- glad you and your friend were able to enjoy the pumpkins before you each have your babies. Continued prayers for healthy delivery.💙💙
Ellie
LOL that you don’t let your husband wash your clothes. I have a feeling a lot of women, including myself, would agree. 🙂 I would need to give special instructions to anyone who washed my clothes.
Marilyn
I don’t let my husband do my laundry either. He is helpful in doing a load of his own laundry.
Barb
Your laundry plan, having to wash your things separate, sounds just like mine. I have to wash most of my stuff on cold and hang to dry as there is no room for shrinkage. I’m lucky my husband washes his own work clothes. But, I am hyper-vigilant and panic if I think he put any of his good shirts in with the work clothes that he just lumps colors together and washes on high.
Ellie
Sounds like we are on the same wavelength, Barb 🙂
AmyRyb
Mind if I ask why socks and underwear end up as a separate load? Seems like more work to have to sort them all if any look similar, and I feel like they don’t take up so much space that they couldn’t go in with the other loads of clothes. Just curious! We split laundry down the middle in my house–my husband does his and my oldest son’s, and I do mine and my youngest son’s, and usually I end up doing towels or sheets just because I work from home a couple days and it’s easy to keep them moving when I’m there all day. For the loads I do, I use lingerie bags for socks, underwear, and masks–anything small enough to get lost or stuck, which helps keep pairs together (not lost in sleeves or pant legs) and narrow down the search if one does go missing (it generally never made it to the bag–so hidden in bed sheets or couch cushions). I’ve found it much easier to keep things straight! Also, we each have our own so it minimizes the sorting issue. Just a suggestion as you approach human #4 in your house! 🙂
Ellie
Hi Amy. That’s a great question. I do socks and underwear separately for two reasons. It prevents me from losing socks. It seems like they always go missing if I wash them with bigger clothing items, but by washing them separately, I almost never lose any. And I also feel like underwear are more delicate items and would get stretched out if they were washed with jeans, shirts, etc.
Anon
Costco and Trader Joe’s are my “fun” grocery store trips.
I love the elliptical, and also agree about running. It’s the one form of cardio that I cannot push myself in aside from a short distance.
Ellie
I agree about Costco and Trader Joe’s being fun. 🙂
Kelly
I never enjoyed exercising until I got a personal trainer. That only lasted a few months until covid but I saw results which was motivating. Definitely like movies at home. I shop at Walmart, Costco, Trader Joes, Aldi, Fresh Market and Publix. It depends what’s closest and what I need. Hubby does all of the laundry and it’s just the two of us now so I don’t have any idea how many loads per week. I always wanted to be a flight attendant but was too short so I became a special education teacher. I taught until our first child was born 32 years ago and then became a SAHM. I was lucky to be able to volunteer in my 3 kids schools until they graduated and now I am a stay at home dog mom.
Ellie
I never knew there was a height requirement for being a flight attendant. That’s sad!
Anonymous
Back in the 80’s the height requirement was 5’2”. I’m 5’ on a good day. There are no height requirements today.
A
Their is still a height Requirement of. 5’2 on airplanes.
Their was a girls thar finishing taking training for flight school they told her she could be a flight attendant she was to small.
Anonymous
I don’t understand the attraction of Wal-Mart for groceries. Their meats always look nasty and they never have enough checkout lanes open. I only go there maybe once a year to pick up something other stores don’t have. I went 2 years without going there and then the only thing I bought when I did go were some spices and a pasta shape I couldn’t find elsewhere.
I won’t go to Aldi’s because they don’t have brand names, they charge you a cart rental fee, and they don’t have (free) bags. Shopping is enough of a headache without being treated that way.
I don’t shop at “club” stores either (Costco) because I don’t need those sizes and I don’t believe in paying to shop at a store!
I shop at a large (brand-name) grocery chain store that has free carts, free bags, no membership fee. They double coupons plus take competitors’ coupons plus run their own $$ off your total coupons in their weekly ad. A manager voluntarily took my groceries out to my car for me the other day and chatted cheerfully the whole time about weather and my make of car, so what more could I want? You don’t get that personal touch at Wal-Mart or Aldi’s.
Ellie
I think it depends on the Walmart location. I know of one in Nashville that isn’t great and one that is much more enjoyable to shop at. Actually the latter one always has more checkout lanes open than both Publix and Kroger. I buy most of my meat at Costco (great quality, and enough to freeze the extras which I like), but I have bought meat from Walmart and never had an issue. I think the draw of Walmart is that most things are at rockbottom prices. My experience is that I will sometimes find the same prices at Kroger, but that’s usually only when it’s a sale price. But Walmart has low prices all the time.
I very much agree about the frustration with Aldi not having free bags. They say that helps keep their prices low, but I always wonder if that’s true. The cart rental fee is so they don’t have to pay people to round up the carts in the parking lot, since you get your 25 cents back if you return the cart to the front of the store. That can be tough with a toddler though because it’s much further to walk than the cart corrals.
I do enjoy the customer service that I receive at Publix, but I don’t love paying extra for it, LOL.
Shela G
1. Exercise and I are not compatible because of my mobility issues and physical limitations. I do enjoy walking a little when I can.
2. Laundry I do his and hers, delicates, sheets, and towels
3. What did I want to be when I grew up. A teacher I guess you could say that happened since I homeschool my son.
4. Movies theater or home. My family likes to have food delivered and watch a movie at home. So much more relaxing and comfortable.
5. Grocery shopping. Walmart a lot of times we do pick up. We go to Costco for big stock up. We also use Amazon fresh.
6. What time of day do you like to relax. Whenever I can lol 😆
Ann
I heard that Amazon fresh isn’t doing the grocery stuff next year.